Also, any number of smaller local gods of leadership and chieftainship, all incorporated into the domestic, agricultural, and pastoral aspects of Orlanth Rex.
These incorporations probably permitted the Godlearners to integrate two
bordering similar cultures into a more cohesive unit--this was interrupted.
This also explains why there are two dominant but dissonant means of
organizing a clan's administration. The "Lightbringer Clans" use a
"Lightbringer Council", where clan members take on the personages of various
Lightbringers. The "Traditional Clans" use a "Traditional Council", where
clan members take on the positions of Orlanth's family.
I would surmise that there are also distinct differences in dialect and
other customs that roughly lie along this division. Thus, I tend to run
"Traditionals" as being more Germanic and "Lightbringers" as being more
Gaelic. However, these are flavors within a larger, composite cultural
milieu.
I'd suggest doing research on the Gall-Gael cultures of "Glaswegia" (Western and Northern Scotland and the Isles) and eastern Ireland. These cultures were fairly well-established fusions of Norse and Gaelic elements, wherein the Vikings decided to settle down and ended up intermarrying and producing a new culture with the previous inhabitants.
(PS: Brian Boru did not fight a desperate fight against the Vikings in his
famous Irish battle--he probably had more Vikings on his side than did his
opponent.)
- --
Beer is proof that God exists.
Bottle openers are proof that God is merciful.
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